FITCHBURG -- Now's the time for the Lunenburg/Ayer-Shirley ice hockey team.

The Blue Knights are loaded with experience on offense, defense and in net, and head coach Eric Short is excited about the possibilities of an outstanding season.

"We definitely have a veteran group," said Short, whose team finished 11-8-2 after a quarterfinal-round loss to Nashoba Regional in last year's Central Mass. Division 3A tournament. "We're going to be much younger next year so if we're going to do anything, this is the year. Our top two goal-scorers are back, all our defensive core is back, including our all-star senior goalie, so we look strong offensively and defensively.

The offensive is headlined by junior center Dan Baldino and senior left wing Tom Wagner, who will be joined by Jeff Kerr on the top scoring line.

"I think both are two of the top guys in Central Mass.," Short said. "Tommy is a big, physical player and he had a big year last year with points. Baldino's been the leading scorer on our team the last two years and one of the top kids in the league last year. They're both looking to have great years. We're really looking forward to both of those guys having big years."

Seniors Mike LaManna and Josh DeFazio anchor a strong defensive unit that also includes Brett Vacarelo and Nick Martone.

"(McNamara's) got Josh Defazio and Mike LaManna -- two outstanding senior defensemen -- in front of him," Short said. "With one of those two always on the ice and Alec in the net, I think we'll be strong defensively as well."

Short says Lunenburg's second line, which will boast senior Kevin Cowdrey and Ryan Young, should also be consistent putting the puck in the net.

"Our top two lines look like two top lines that can compete with anybody," Short said.

Wagner understands the importance of having at least two strong scoring lines, which will take the pressure off the No. 1 unit to carry the club.

"Our first line is very strong, our second line is pretty strong, too," Wagner said. "They've got to bury pucks and we've got to bury pucks. We're not going to do it by ourselves on the first line, we need our second line. We need some help."

The third line is inexperienced, however, with Jim Driscoll, Phil Drasser and Ryan Martone.

"Our third line is all new players, so they're going to have to develop and be able to play," Short said. "You can't play on two lines all season, that's one question mark. But they look great so far."

Baldino, Wagner, Defazio and McNamara are the captains.

"Our ultimate goal is just to win," Wagner said. "It should be a good season."

Baldino says he's pumped for the season to begin.

"I think we definitely have a shot at making the playoffs and going deep into it," he said. "We need everyone to step up -- first, second and third line, our 'D' and our goalies, so I think we can be in every game and have a chance to win."

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Fitchburg/Monty Tech

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If experience is key, then the Red Raiders might have a good shot at appearing in the Central Mass. Division 3 tournament this season.

"We've got a good core of upperclassmen who we'll lean heavily on for consistency and leadership," Fitchburg coach Steve Lowney said.

In net, the Blue Devils are strong with senior netminder Logan Bergeron back in his familiar spot between the pipes.

Ryan Leger and Tyler Cuddahy lead the Blue Devils' blue-liners.

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St. Bernard's

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The Bernardians have only 15 kids on the team, but veteran coach Jim Conry -- entering his 30th year coaching -- likes the way they get after it during practice.

"I have a great bunch of kids," said the 70-year-old Conry. "The key for us is to let the kids have a good time, learn the game and see what happens. I expect us to always get to the playoffs, so it's no different this year."

St. Bernard's will rely heavily on its top line of center Liam O'Brien -- the second-leading scorer from last season -- and sophomores Nathan Abitz and Zach Bingham.

Alec VanWagoner bolsters the defense, while converted forward Corey Kittridge, a sophomore, has the chance to win the starting goaltender job.

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North Middlesex

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Any time you have a legitimate goaltender, you always have a chance to win.

Luckily for the Patriots, they have that netminder in senior captain Ryan Twomey.

"In my opinion, he was a top goalie in Division 3A last year and will be a top goalie in 3A again," North Middlesex coach Mike McCarthy said.

North Middlesex, which lost only four seniors off last year's playoff team and returns eight, has the talent and experience to compete night in and night out.

"I'd be very disappointed if we didn't make the tournament and I'd be pleasantly surprised if we made it with ease," McCarthy said. "I expect we'll either win a lot of 3-1, 3-2 games, or lose a lot of 3-1, 3-2 games."

The Pats also lean heavily on senior captains Dan McNamara at forward and defenseman P.J. Dupre.

Junior forward Josh Miller, according to McCarthy, has "a high-end skill set and can really bury the puck."

"We're a solid, deep team of very hard-working kids who get along and are fun to coach," McCarthy said.

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Leominster/St. Bernard's

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The Leominster/St. Bernard's girls' team, which also co-ops with North Middlesex and Groton-Dunstable, may only have 13 players on the roster, but coach Marc Berube is still expecting a nice season from the Blue Devils.

"This could be a really fun year," Berube said. "I'm looking for good things from this team this year."

Six of the 13 players are from Leominster, including captains Jess Moran and Bailey Miller. Leominster sophomore goalie Aislinn deHorsey returns in net, along with Kristi Anderson, Jessica Volpert and Shannon Housser.

Taylor Field, of St. Bernard's, is the other captain. She is joined by St. Bernard's products Rachel Ambrozy and Nicole Meunier -- both freshmen.

Freshman Katie Babineau and sophomores Sam Donohoe and Myranda Robichaud are from North Middlesex, while Caitlynn Berube -- no relation to the head coach -- attends Groton-Dunstable.

"I've got a very good skating team this year," Marc Berube said.

Leominster has taken over as the base school. There are no Gardner players on the team this year, and Nashoba Regional's players now co-op with Algonquin, according to Berube.

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Nashoba

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Confidence can go a long way, and the Chieftains certainly have confidence in senior star goaltender Devyn Levesque and backup Luke Gilchrest.

"It definitely breeds confidence when you know 94-95 percent of the time (Levesque's) going to stop the puck," Nashoba coach Steve Kendall said. "The kids are very confident in them because they always give us a chance to win."

Nashoba, fresh off last year's 14-5-3 season, is hopeful to get back into the Central Mass. Division 3A tournament.

"We definitely have the potential to be a playoff team," Kendall said.

With low participation, head coach John Meany worried that the program would be finished after last season. But the Wildcats have 19 kids on this year's team -- two more than a year ago -- and the program is still alive for another year.

"Our goal is to get the program back, but right now it's if we can get there," Meany said. "We'll take it one year at a time and hope bigger classes come through."

Gardner does return its two netminders in senior Nate Maillet and sophomore Tim Swenson, along with solid defenseman Cam Walsh and senior forwards Shawn Doherty and Jacob Comeau.

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